Overview of Genetic Counseling and Testing
During a genetic counseling appointment, a board-certified genetic counselor will spend time reviewing your personal and family history of cancer and will explain what that history means for your cancer risks and those of your relatives. She may recommend using various models to further evaluate your risk. If genetic testing is indicated for you, she will discuss the details of that process so you can make a decision about whether the testing makes sense for you. With or without genetic testing, the genetic counselor will provide you with more personalized estimates of your cancer risks which may lead to additional screening and medical management options that you wouldn’t have considered otherwise. These options may allow for early detection and/or prevention of cancer.